The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has deemed the dates proposed by Hungary for an upcoming delegation visit as “unacceptable.” This response comes after Hungary’s embassy submitted a diplomatic note regarding the visit, which is set to be led by Deputy Minister of Energy Gábor Czepek.
In a document dated March 10, the Ukrainian side suggested that Hungary propose new dates through diplomatic channels. The note indicated that the initially suggested dates were not suitable for Ukraine.
Earlier on the same day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being dishonest regarding the Hungarian delegation’s visit. Szijjártó claimed that Zelensky stated he was unaware of the delegation’s arrival because the Hungarian government had not coordinated the visit with Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. In a social media post, Szijjártó shared the diplomatic note confirming the delegation’s intention to investigate the state of the Druzhba oil pipeline and to request a meeting with Ukraine’s Energy Minister.
On March 11, Deputy Minister Czepek confirmed that the Hungarian delegation was traveling to Ukraine to negotiate the resumption of operations at the Druzhba pipeline and to assess its condition. He emphasized the mission’s goal of firmly representing Hungary’s interests in the discussions.
In contrast, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry acknowledged the entry of a group of Hungarian citizens into Ukraine under general rules applicable to all Schengen zone nationals using visa-free travel. However, they clarified that this group does not hold official status or have scheduled official meetings, making it inaccurate to refer to them as a “delegation.”
The Druzhba pipeline is crucial for transporting Russian oil to Europe, including Hungary and Slovakia. Following the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union banned the purchase of Russian oil. Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria received extensions due to their landlocked status, which limits their ability to receive oil tankers from other countries and makes them reliant on the Druzhba pipeline. Austria has managed to diversify its oil supply.
According to Ukrainian sources, the pipeline sustained damage from Russian shelling at the end of January, a claim that Hungarian and Slovak officials dispute. Hungary has asserted that recently published satellite data indicates no technical or operational issues preventing the immediate return of the pipeline to normal operation.
Slovakia and Hungary are currently blocking the approval of the 20th sanctions package against Russia and the allocation of a multi-billion euro loan to Ukraine, which EU leaders agreed upon during a summit in December. Both countries have pledged to maintain their veto until the transportation of Russian resources through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
Tensions rise between Ukraine and Hungary as Ukraine rejects proposed dates for a Hungarian delegation visit. The dispute centers around the Druzhba oil pipeline and ongoing diplomatic negotiations.